Amazon Kindle 3: 7 Features To Die For

Hey iPad, over here!

Fifteen years ago, Nicole Kidman was To Die For (and in my books still is, Robot look or not). Now it seems it’s either the Apple iPad or just released Amazon Kindle 3 that are stealing all the headlines. What has happened to us? Gadgets, it seems, are the new sexy.

Speaking of killing husbands, yesterday the Amazon Kindle 3 arrived at SSC labs (unboxing, first impressions). Now that we’ve had the device for about a day, we’ve come to some early conclusions, mostly good, but some bad as well–as Robbie Williams sings, “You’re a star, but you’ll fade.”

Endless comparisons with the iPad are inevitable, but I’m convinced those that lust whole-heartedly after one or the other won’t be swayed. Each serves its purpose. Though, it does beg the question: What if… ? As in, what if a hybrid screen technology emerged that could offer the best of both worlds; stunning, crisp legibility for words (Kindle), but colorful, touch fun (iPad)? I’m sure that day is closer than we think, at least I hope.

My fingers are compelled to touch the screen. Call it the Apple effect. Or smartphone halo. We’re increasingly trained, like pre-schoolers, to touch, to point, to swipe. So, with Kindle it takes a certain amount of re-training. You can’t swipe from page to page; old school buttons do the trick–but just fine thank you very much.

The early word on the “experimental” browser: bla. I think I’ve had more fun using a Commodore Vic 20 and 300kbps modem. Or, in today’s terms: Like CNN without Anderson Cooper. It’s just not pretty. When I pulled up Gmail, artifacts littered the screen occasionally. And typing on that tiny chicklet keyboard is anything but productive. However, this is not Kindle’s mission in life. It is–as I was reminded on Facebook–to read. Yes, read, read, read. And that, I’d say it does very well… eliminating any barrier between the reader and the intended experience of the author.

Now I present: Amazon Kindle 3: 7 Features To Die For

(coming soon: the not-so-great features; think Chevy Chase in unfunny mode, or Lindsey Lohan back to re-hab)

Clinton Stark

Clint writes about Silicon Valley, film, California wine (Stark Sips), theater (ATCA member) and tech (including his trusty Droid and Canon EOS 60D). A would-be NHLer if it weren't for the clarinet, he tries in vain to direct Loni on Stark Insider TV. He's held executive marketing roles at Cisco, EMC and Salesforce.com, and is active with start-ups across the valley. Clint's story...

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